Method and system for splitting virtual universes into distinct entities

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for allowing an administrator or program to select a region or set of avatars in a virtual universe grid for splitting into another, separate and distinct virtual universe grid. If a region is selected, all of the avatars and virtual universe resources associated with the region are locked, their data is retrieved, and another separate virtual universe grid is commanded to create and insert the avatars and resources in it. If avatars are selected, all of the resources, scripts, histories, and information regarding the selected avatars are retrieved, and the avatars are locked in the source universe. Then, another, separate virtual universe grid is commanded to create universe user identifiers for the avatars, and they are inserted into the separate VU grid. Cleanup includes deleting the region and/or avatars from the first (source) virtual universe grid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to cross-platform scheduling technologies for “Virtual World” systems, Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing systems, and the like.

2. Background of the Invention

Whereas the determination of a publication, technology, or product as prior art relative to the present invention requires analysis of certain dates and events not disclosed herein, no statements made within this Background of the Invention shall constitute an admission by the Applicants of prior art unless the term “Prior Art” is specifically stated. Otherwise, all statements provided within this Background section are “other information” related to or useful for understanding the invention.

“Virtual Worlds”, also sometimes referred to as “Massively Multi-Player Online Role Playing Games” (“MMPorg”) systems, are well known in the art for their ability to allow users, or “players”, to assume a virtual identity, and to interact through that identity with the system's logic as well as with other users or players through their own virtual identities. Some of the presently available Virtual World systems and products include, but are not limited to, Second Life, MindArk PE AB's Intropia, and Makena Technologies' There<dot>com, where <dot>represents the period or dot character “.”.

By configuring the virtual identity, a user is enabled to create a persona of his or her liking, and to interact within the virtual world and the other users, who are also represented by their own virtual avatars and identities. Most Virtual Worlds allow the user to select or create a three-dimensional representation of his or her virtual identity, referred to as an avatar. Avatars can be realistic in their appearance, or can be a fantasy creature. Other characteristics, such as movement speed and restrictions, communications abilities, and interaction limitations or abilities, can be defined for a user's virtual identity.

While these types of virtual worlds began as gaming and role playing products, they have now evolved into useful platforms for other purposes. One such purpose is an evolution of online meetings, online conferences, and online training or education.

Previous products directed towards these purposes were based on presenting the real voice and/or real image of each “attendee” to an online meeting, either through sharing of still photos of each attendee, or through use of webcams to transmit live images. Communications were enabled through simultaneous use of telephone lines, or through use of voice-over-Internet-Protocol (“VoIP”) and/or text messaging.

While these systems offer many advantages, such as saving travel costs, allowing quicker dissemination of information, and fostering near-face-to-face relationships, one draw back of such online meetings is that there is little or no sensation of community during the online conference—each attendee still feels as if he or she is using a computer alone to converse with the other attendees.

With the evolution of Virtual World's into this manner of usage, many of these issues are resolved because there is a greater sense of community or social interaction as the experience is much more complete and realistic. Each attendee feels much more immersed in the meeting virtual environment, including the virtual meeting room or space, and each attendee has a greater sensation of the other attendees' presence because each attendee has a virtual position within the group of attendees, which cannot be had from a standard web meeting.

Further, the facilities issue is alleviated through hosting meetings, training, and conferences in Virtual World's. Rather than renting expensive meeting facilities, and providing expensive real display fixtures and furniture, a company can configure a virtual meeting in a virtual world which has all of the “appearance” factors as desired at a fraction of the costs of a corresponding real-world meeting space. Even better, the virtual meeting space can be reconfigured as needed, such as expanding the space when a larger-than-expected attendee group “signs up” to attend.

Since many original virtual worlds did not restrict where players could “go” within the world, except for restrictions placed on certain levels or privileges for each player, in order to host business-to-business functions, some modifications to the virtual world systems were made.

Chief among these modifications were definitions and controls put in place to allow definition of “private virtual worlds”, where one or more users could control which other users could “enter” the private virtual world. This allows a company such as IBM to create multiple private virtual worlds within a virtual world system, such as Second Life, for the purposes of employee training, customer meetings, etc., without the concern for third-parties accessing sensitive or confidential information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system and method for allowing an administrator or program to select a region or set of avatars in a virtual universe grid for splitting into another, separate and distinct virtual universe grid is provided. If a region is selected, all of the avatars and virtual universe resources associated with the region are locked, their data is retrieved, and another separate virtual universe grid is commanded to create and insert the avatars and resources in it. If avatars are selected, all of the resources, scripts, histories, and information regarding the selected avatars are retrieved, and the avatars are locked in the source universe. Then, another, separate virtual universe grid is commanded to create universe user identifiers for the avatars, and they are inserted into the separate VU grid. Cleanup includes deleting the region and/or avatars from the first (source) virtual universe grid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the figures presented herein provide a complete disclosure of the invention.

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b set forth high level phases of processes according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show a generalized computing platform architecture, and a generalized organization of software and firmware of such a computing platform architecture.

FIG. 3 a sets forth a logical process to deploy software to a client in which the deployed software embodies the methods and processes of the present and related inventions.

FIG. 3 b sets forth a logical process to integrate software to other software programs in which the integrated software embodies the methods and processes of the present and related inventions.

FIG. 3 c sets forth a logical process to execute software on behalf of a client in an on-demand computing system, in which the executed software embodies the methods and processes of the present and related inventions.

FIG. 3 d sets forth a logical process to deploy software to a client via a virtual private network, in which the deployed software embodies the methods and processes of the present and related inventions.

FIGS. 4 a, 4 b and 4 c, illustrate computer readable media of various removable and fixed types, signal transceivers, and parallel-to-serial-to-parallel signal circuits.

FIG. 5 illustrates arrangements of systems and networks used in order to interact with a virtual world server.

FIG. 6 provides additional information regarding primary components or functional sub-systems of a virtual world server.

FIG. 7 depicts interactions between various types of users and major functional portions of a virtual world server.

FIG. 8 illustrates a hypothetical three-dimensional view of a “world” scenario in which a virtual meeting, presentation, or conference is being held.

FIG. 9 shows a multi-virtual-world arrangement of systems in which the user can command a split of a first virtual world into two or more distinct virtual worlds.

FIGS. 9 a and 9 b set forth alternative detailed logical processes according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The inventors of the present invention have recognized and solved problems previously unrecognized by others in the art of managing virtual world resources, especially in the context of splitting a first virtual world into two or more virtual worlds.

Suitable Computing Platform

Whereas at least one embodiment of the present invention incorporates, uses, or operates on, with, or through one or more computing platforms, and whereas many devices, even purpose-specific devices, are actually based upon computing platforms of one type or another, it is useful to describe a suitable computing platform, its characteristics, and its capabilities.

Therefore, it is useful to review a generalized architecture of a computing platform which may span the range of implementation, from a high-end web or enterprise server platform, to a personal computer, to a portable PDA or wireless phone.

In one embodiment of the invention, the functionality including the previously described logical processes are performed in part or wholly by software executed by a computer, such as personal computers, web servers, web browsers, or even an appropriately capable portable computing platform, such as personal digital assistant (“PDA”), web-enabled wireless telephone, or other type of personal information management (“PIM”) device. In alternate embodiments, some or all of the functionality of the invention are realized in other logical forms, such as circuitry.

Turning to FIG. 2 a, a generalized architecture is presented including a central processing unit (21) (“CPU”), which is typically comprised of a microprocessor (22) associated with random access memory (“RAM”) (24) and read-only memory (“ROM”) (25). Often, the CPU (21) is also provided with cache memory (23) and programmable FlashROM (26). The interface (27) between the microprocessor (22) and the various types of CPU memory is often referred to as a “local bus”, but also may be a more generic or industry standard bus.

Many computing platforms are also provided with one or more storage drives (29), such as hard-disk drives (“HDD”), floppy disk drives, compact disc drives (CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-R, etc.), and proprietary disk and tape drives (e.g., Iomega Zip and Jaz, Addonics SuperDisk, etc.). Additionally, some storage drives may be accessible over a computer network.

Many computing platforms are provided with one or more communication interfaces (210), according to the function intended of the computing platform. For example, a personal computer is often provided with a high speed serial port (RS-232, RS-422, etc.), an enhanced parallel port (“EPP”), and one or more universal serial bus (“USB”) ports. The computing platform may also be provided with a local area network (“LAN”) interface, such as an Ethernet card, and other high-speed interfaces such as the High Performance Serial Bus IEEE-1394.

Computing platforms such as wireless telephones and wireless networked PDA's may also be provided with a radio frequency (“RF”) interface with antenna, as well. In some cases, the computing platform may be provided with an infrared data arrangement (“IrDA”) interface, too.

Computing platforms are often equipped with one or more internal expansion slots (211), such as Industry Standard Architecture (“ISA”), Enhanced Industry Standard Architecture (“EISA”), Peripheral Component Interconnect (“PCI”), or proprietary interface slots for the addition of other hardware, such as sound cards, memory boards, and graphics accelerators.

Additionally, many units, such as laptop computers and PDA's, are provided with one or more external expansion slots (212) allowing the user the ability to easily install and remove hardware expansion devices, such as PCMCIA cards, SmartMedia cards, and various proprietary modules such as removable hard drives, CD drives, and floppy drives.

Often, the storage drives (29), communication interfaces (210), internal expansion slots (211) and external expansion slots (212) are interconnected with the CPU (21) via a standard or industry open bus architecture (28), such as ISA, EISA, or PCI. In many cases, the bus (28) may be of a proprietary design.

A computing platform is usually provided with one or more user input devices, such as a keyboard or a keypad (216), and mouse or pointer device (217), and/or a touch-screen display (218). In the case of a personal computer, a full size keyboard is often provided along with a mouse or pointer device, such as a track ball or TrackPoint. In the case of a web-enabled wireless telephone, a simple keypad may be provided with one or more function-specific keys. In the case of a PDA, a touch-screen (218) is usually provided, often with handwriting recognition capabilities.

Additionally, a microphone (219), such as the microphone of a web-enabled wireless telephone or the microphone of a personal computer, is supplied with the computing platform. This microphone may be used for simply reporting audio and voice signals, and it may also be used for entering user choices, such as voice navigation of web sites or auto-dialing telephone numbers, using voice recognition capabilities.

Many computing platforms are also equipped with a camera device (2100), such as a still digital camera or full motion video digital camera.

One or more user output devices, such as a display (213), are also provided with most computing platforms. The display (213) may take many forms, including a Cathode Ray Tube (“CRT”), a Thin Flat Transistor (“TFT”) array, or a simple set of light emitting diodes (“LED”) or liquid crystal display (“LCD”) indicators.

One or more speakers (214) and/or annunciators (215) are often associated with computing platforms, too. The speakers (214) may be used to reproduce audio and music, such as the speaker of a wireless telephone or the speakers of a personal computer. Annunciators (215) may take the form of simple beep emitters or buzzers, commonly found on certain devices such as PDAs and PIMs.

These user input and output devices may be directly interconnected (28′, 28″) to the CPU (21) via a proprietary bus structure and/or interfaces, or they may be interconnected through one or more industry open buses such as ISA, EISA, PCI, etc. The computing platform is also provided with one or more software and firmware (2101) programs to implement the desired functionality of the computing platforms.

Turning to now FIG. 2 b, more detail is given of a generalized organization of software and firmware (2101) on this range of computing platforms. One or more operating system (“OS”) native application programs (223) may be provided on the computing platform, such as word processors, spreadsheets, contact management utilities, address book, calendar, email client, presentation, financial and bookkeeping programs.

Additionally, one or more “portable” or device-independent programs (224) may be provided, which must be interpreted by an OS-native platform-specific interpreter (225), such as Java scripts and programs.

Often, computing platforms are also provided with a form of web browser or micro-browser (226), which may also include one or more extensions to the browser such as browser plug-ins (227).

The computing device is often provided with an operating system (220), such as Microsoft Windows, UNIX, IBM OS/2, IBM AIX, open source LINUX, Apple's MAC OS, or other platform specific operating systems. Smaller devices such as PDA's and wireless telephones may be equipped with other forms of operating systems such as real-time operating systems (“RTOS”) or Palm Computing's PalmOS.

A set of basic input and output functions (“BIOS”) and hardware device drivers (221) are often provided to allow the operating system (220) and programs to interface to and control the specific hardware functions provided with the computing platform.

Additionally, one or more embedded firmware programs (222) are commonly provided with many computing platforms, which are executed by onboard or “embedded” microprocessors as part of the peripheral device, such as a micro controller or a hard drive, a communication processor, network interface card, or sound or graphics card.

As such. FIGS. 2 a and 2 b describe in a general sense the various hardware components, software and firmware programs of a wide variety of computing platforms, including but not limited to personal computers, PDAs, PIMs, web-enabled telephones, and other appliances such as WebTV units. As such, we now turn our attention to disclosure of the present invention relative to the processes and methods preferably implemented as software and firmware on such a computing platform. It will be readily recognized by those skilled in the art that the following methods and processes may be alternatively realized as hardware functions, in part or in whole, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Computer-Readable Media Embodiments

In another embodiment of the invention, logical processes according to the invention and described herein are encoded on or in one or more computer-readable media. Some computer-readable media are read-only (e.g. they must be initially programmed using a different device than that which is ultimately used to read the data from the media), some are write-only (e.g. from the data encoders perspective they can only be encoded, but not read simultaneously), or read-write. Still some other media are write-once, read-many-times.

Some media are relatively fixed in their mounting mechanisms, while others are removable, or even transmittable. All computer-readable media form two types of systems when encoded with data and/or computer software: (a) when removed from a drive or reading mechanism, they are memory devices which generate useful data-driven outputs when stimulated with appropriate electromagnetic, electronic, and/or optical signals; and (b) when installed in a drive or reading device, they form a data repository system accessible by a computer.

FIG. 4 a illustrates some computer readable media including a computer hard drive (40) having one or more magnetically encoded platters or disks (41), which may be read, written, or both, by one or more heads (42). Such hard drives are typically semi-permanently mounted into a complete drive unit, which may then be integrated into a configurable computer system such as a Personal Computer, Server Computer, or the like.

Similarly, another form of computer readable media is a flexible, removable “floppy disk” (43), which is inserted into a drive which houses an access head. The floppy disk typically includes a flexible, magnetically encodable disk which is accessible by the drive head through a window (45) in a sliding cover (44).

A Compact Disk (“CD”) (46) is usually a plastic disk which is encoded using an optical and/or magneto-optical process, and then is read using generally an optical process. Some CD's are read-only (“CD-ROM”), and are mass produced prior to distribution and use by reading-types of drives. Other CD's are writable (e.g. “CD-RW”, “CD-R”), either once or many time. Digital Versatile Disks (“DVD”) are advanced versions of CD's which often include double-sided encoding of data, and even multiple layer encoding of data. Like a floppy disk, a CD or DVD is a removable media.

Another common type of removable media are several types of removable circuit-based (e.g. solid state) memory devices, such as Compact Flash (“CF”) (47), Secure Data (“SD”), Sony's Memory Stick, Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) FlashDrives and “Thumbdrives” (49), and others. These devices are typically plastic housings which incorporate a digital memory chip, such as a battery-backed random access chip (“RAM”), or a Flash Read-Only Memory (“FlashROM”). Available to the external portion of the media is one or more electronic connectors (48, 400) for engaging a connector, such as a CF drive slot or a USB slot. Devices such as a USB FlashDrive are accessed using a serial data methodology, where other devices such as the CF are accessed using a parallel methodology. These devices often offer faster access times than disk-based media, as well as increased reliability and decreased susceptibility to mechanical shock and vibration. Often, they provide less storage capability than comparably priced disk-based media.

Yet another type of computer readable media device is a memory module (403), often referred to as a SIMM or DIMM. Similar to the CF, SD, and FlashDrives, these modules incorporate one or more memory devices (402), such as Dynamic RAM (“DRAM”), mounted on a circuit board (401) having one or more electronic connectors for engaging and interfacing to another circuit, such as a Personal Computer motherboard. These types of memory modules are not usually encased in an outer housing, as they are intended for installation by trained technicians, and are generally protected by a larger outer housing such as a Personal Computer chassis.

Turning now to FIG. 4 b, another embodiment option (405) of the present invention is shown in which a computer-readable signal is encoded with software, data, or both, which implement logical processes according to the invention. FIG. 4 b is generalized to represent the functionality of wireless, wired, electro-optical, and optical signaling systems. For example, the system shown in FIG. 4 b can be realized in a manner suitable for wireless transmission over Radio Frequencies (“RF”), as well as over optical signals, such as InfraRed Data Arrangement (“IrDA”). The system of FIG. 4 b may also be realized in another manner to serve as a data transmitter, data receiver, or data transceiver for a USB system, such as a drive to read the aforementioned USB FlashDrive, or to access the serially-stored data on a disk, such as a CD or hard drive platter.

In general, a microprocessor or microcontroller (406) reads, writes, or both, data to/from storage for data, program, or both (407). A data interface (409), optionally including a digital-to-analog converter, cooperates with an optional protocol stack (408), to send, receive, or transceive data between the system front-end (410) and the microprocessor (406). The protocol stack is adapted to the signal type being sent, received, or transceived. For example, in a Local Area Network (“LAN”) embodiment, the protocol stack may implement Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (“TCP/IP”). In a computer-to-computer or computer-to-peripheral embodiment, the protocol stack may implement all or portions of USB, “FireWire”, RS-232, Point-to-Point Protocol (“PPP”), etc.

The system's front-end, or analog front-end, is adapted to the signal type being modulated, demodulate, or transcoded. For example, in an RF-based (413) system, the analog front-end comprises various local oscillators, modulators, demodulators, etc., which implement signaling formats such as Frequency Modulation (“FM”), Amplitude Modulation (“AM”), Phase Modulation (“PM”), Pulse Code Modulation (“PCM”), etc. Such an RF-based embodiment typically includes an antenna (414) for transmitting, receiving, or transceiving electro-magnetic signals via open air, water, earth, or via RF wave guides and coaxial cable. Some common open air transmission standards are BlueTooth, Global Services for Mobile Communications (“GSM”), Time Division Multiple Access (“TDMA”), Advanced Mobile Phone Service (“AMPS”), and Wireless Fidelity (“Wi-Fi”).

In another example embodiment, the analog front-end may be adapted to sending, receiving, or transceiving signals via an optical interface (415), such as laser-based optical interfaces (e.g. Wavelength Division Multiplexed, SONET, etc.), or Infra Red Data Arrangement (“IrDA”) interfaces (416). Similarly, the analog front-end may be adapted to sending, receiving, or transceiving signals via cable (412) using a cable interface, which also includes embodiments such as USB, Ethernet, LAN, twisted-pair, coax, Plain-old Telephone Service (“POTS”), etc.

Signals transmitted, received, or transceived, as well as data encoded on disks or in memory devices, may be encoded to protect it from unauthorized decoding and use. Other types of encoding may be employed to allow for error detection, and in some cases, correction, such as by addition of parity bits or Cyclic Redundancy Codes (“CRC”). Still other types of encoding may be employed to allow directing or “routing” of data to the correct destination, such as packet and frame-based protocols.

FIG. 4 c illustrates conversion systems which convert parallel data to and from serial data. Parallel data is most often directly usable by microprocessors, often formatted in 8-bit wide bytes, 16-bit wide words, 32-bit wide double words, etc. Parallel data can represent executable or interpretable software, or it may represent data values, for use by a computer. Data is often serialized in order to transmit it over a media, such as a RF or optical channel, or to record it onto a media, such as a disk. As such, many computer-readable media systems include circuits, software, or both, to perform data serialization and re-parallelization.

Parallel data (421) can be represented as the flow of data signals aligned in time, such that parallel data unit (byte, word, d-word, etc.) (422, 423, 424) is transmitted with each bit D₀-D_(n) being on a bus or signal carrier simultaneously, where the “width” of the data unit is n−1. In some systems. D₀ is used to represent the least significant bit (“LSB”), and in other systems, it represents the most significant bit (“MSB”). Data is serialized (421) by sending one bit at a time, such that each data unit (422, 423, 424) is sent in serial fashion, one after another, typically according to a protocol.

As such, the parallel data stored in computer memory (407, 407′) is often accessed by a microprocessor or Parallel-to-Serial Converter (425, 425′) via a parallel bus (421), and exchanged (e.g. transmitted, received, or transceived) via a serial bus (421′). Received serial data is converted back into parallel data before storing it in computer memory, usually. The serial bus (421′) generalized in FIG. 4 c may be a wired bus, such as USB or Firewire, or a wireless communications medium, such as an RF or optical channel, as previously discussed.

In these manners, various embodiments of the invention may be realized by encoding software, data, or both, according to the logical processes of the invention, into one or more computer-readable mediums, thereby yielding a product of manufacture and a system which, when properly read, received, or decoded, yields useful programming instructions, data, or both, including, but not limited to, the computer-readable media types described in the foregoing paragraphs.

General Arrangements of Virtual Worlds

Turning to FIG. 5, a general arrangement of components, networks, and users of a virtual world is shown. A virtual world server (18) is interconnected through a data network (51), such as the Internet or an intranet, or a telephone network (52), such as a public switched telephone network (“PSTN”) or a digital telephone network (e.g. digital cellular, Integrated Services Digital Network, Digital Subscriber Line, etc.). Many virtual world server's are interconnected to a combination or data and telephone networks, whereas the convergence of the two types of networks have rendered some networks difficult to clearly distinguish as exclusively data or telephone. For example, Voice over Internet (“VoIP”) protocol has allowed telephone calls to be carried by traditionally data-only networks. And, Modulate-Demodulate (“modem”) devices have long since allowed data communications over telephone lines. Further, traditionally content oriented networks, such as cable television networks, have also been adapted to carry digitized telephone calls and data connections to the Internet.

Of particular popularity in recent years are various types of wireless networks, from cellular telephone networks, to shorter range networks, such as “WiFi” and Blue Tooth networks, some of which use “towers” (507) and others of which use wireless access points (506) to interconnect a wireless device to a wired network.

In the arrangement of FIG. 5, users (501-505) access the Virtual World server (18) though the various networks (51, 52) using terminal devices such as a personal computer (“PC”) with a local area network (“LAN”) interface, a wireless terminal such as a cellular telephone or “WiFi” equipped laptop PC, or even a PC with a telephone or cable modem.

Major Functions of a Virtual World Server

FIG. 6 shows some of the major or primary functions of a Virtual World server (18) which is interconnected to one or more user's via their terminals (60) through one or more networks (51, 52). This depiction is a generalization of a virtual world environment, whereas specific virtual world platforms are, to date, typically proprietary in nature. As such, FIG. 6 is presented for reference only, and for the ease of understanding the present invention. It is within the skill of those in the art to adapt, configure, and implement the invention, as described herein, within a specific, proprietary virtual world environment.

Within the Virtual World server (18), there are a number of application programs (65) running, which utilize or game data (61), Virtual World resources (63), user account information (62) and profile (64). Such application programs, and extensions thereto, are often provided or developed in programming languages such as C or Python.

The Virtual World server (18) has integrated into it one or more microprocessors, memory devices and sub-systems, and communications bandwidth or capabilities (66).

Most virtual world servers can maintain and operate more than one “virtual worlds” simultaneously (67). In each of the virtual world's scenarios or sub-worlds (69), user's can use a different or the same avatars (68) to represent themselves.

Underlying Mechanisms of Interaction

FIG. 7 illustrates a generalized arrangement of a virtual world system which allows the users to interact with each other and with the scenarios created by and maintained by the Virtual World server. This depiction is a generalization of a virtual world interaction scheme, whereas specific virtual world platforms are, to date, typically proprietary in nature. As such. FIG. 7 is presented for reference only, and for the ease of understanding the present invention. It is within the skill of those in the art to adapt, configure, and implement the invention, as described herein, within a specific, proprietary virtual world environment.

In many scenarios, the users are divided into two or more classes of user, such as a presenter (70) and attendees (71). Each class of user may have greater or fewer capabilities within the world, such as a presenter being allowed to share a desktop presentation file with the attendees, but the attendees not being able to share their own desktop applications with other attendees.

In such an arrangement, the primary method of interaction between users and the applications of the Virtual World server is through a variety of messaging capabilities (34), such as VoIP, text messaging (“SMS”), instant messaging (e.g. America Online's Instant Messenger or Lotus' SameTime), electronic mail, telephone audio, internet camera audio/video, application programming interfaces (“API”), shared desktop technologies, and the like.

For example, during a Virtual World conference or presentation, the real presenter (70) may communicate (75, 75′) with the real attendees (71) via their virtual presences (e.g. avatars) of the virtual scenario. Further, the real presenter (70) may also communicate (77) with a scenario manager portion (73) of the Virtual World server to accomplish such functions as reserving resources necessary to create and maintain the virtual scenario, freezing the scenario, and controlling attendance to the scenario. The real presenter may also communicate (76) with portions of the Virtual World “engine” (72) to accomplish other administrative functions, as may be necessary.

Illustrative Virtual Scenario

Many virtual worlds provide a three-dimensional visual simulation of each sub-world or scenario, accompanied by appropriate text and/or audio, in order to provide a believable, but not necessarily “realistic”, rendering of the scenario to the users. For example, in “fantasy” scenarios, avatars of users may be animals, hypothetical creatures, etc., and the landscape of the scenario may be another plant or a future civilization.

However, in many business-to-business scenarios, such as corporate meetings or training sessions, the scenarios are more realistic in their appearance, albeit still virtual.

Turning to FIG. 8, an example depiction of such a realistic scenario is provided, in which the avatar (81′) for the real meeting facilitator is shown along side a virtual presentation screen (82) as if the facilitator were in a real meeting room with walls (83, 84, 85), and a floor area where the avatars (81′) of the meeting attendees are shown.

To enhance the experience, the virtual presentation screen may show a portion of the facilitator's actual terminal device's screen, such as a portion of a Microsoft Windows™ desktop interface, or may be filled with information provided to the Virtual World server from an application program, such as a mobile phone or PDA-based presentation program. Still further to enhance the virtual conference experience, the virtual walls are decorated according to the presenter's (or other administrator's) preferences, including coverings, skins, or lighting (88), and/or one or more company logos (84).

In such a scenario, the presenter or administrator of the virtual conference schedules, reserves, or otherwise configures these environment choices, including possibly restrictions as to which other users may be attendees. Such scheduling and reservation activities are usually performed in advance, and may need to be revised as the number of virtual attendees becomes more and more certain closer to time of the virtual conference.

For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “scheduling” of virtual world “resources” will be used to refer to such activities as requesting in advance, configuring, enabling, disabling, limiting, enumerating, revising, or otherwise controlling virtual environment characteristics, attendee lists, attendee capabilities, etc.

Problem Recognized by the Inventors

The present invention solves a problem not recognized by those in the art, which is that shown in FIG. 9, in which multiple virtual world platforms and systems have evolved and been deployed, none of which being capable of interacting with each other. In many ways, it could be said that today's virtual worlds are “islands” to themselves due to their technical limitations (e.g. proprietary design natures), and due in part to their previous market appeal (e.g. only to their own client or user base).

Regions in a VU are independent of each other from an infrastructure perspective. For example, in Second Life, regions are often run on a single core of a 2-CPU, 2-core Linux system (so each computer can run four simulators). When the simulator software starts up, it joins a pool of similarly-configured systems waiting to be assigned a region to run. When a new region is created, its configuration (land layout, water layout, textures, etcetera) is stored in a database, and then randomly assigned to one of the spare simulators in the pool.

In the near future, it is expected that it will become more common to have different service providers for VU grid software. Recently, Linden Lab open-sourced its client software that they use for Second Life, making this possibility much more likely. One problem with running VU grids with different service providers is that currently, no connection exists to the central asset server or login servers. The asset server contains each avatar's inventory, and all the objects, scripts and textures used in-world. This database may be strained with a large number of users (such as 18,000+for Second Life).

Recently, Linden Labs demonstrated a “sim-in-a-box.” It contains all the hardware and software needed to run a single, stand-alone region, but with no connections to the current Asset or Login server connections. With this, every user logging in would have to create a new account again for this stand-alone VU, and everyone would start with “no inventory,” that is, having to rebuild their avatar's inventory from scratch.

The inventors have recognized a problem which is expected to arise in the near future when VU users desire to split VUs for different service providers and “sim-in-a-box” VUs. Splits will be desired for a number of reasons. For example, a corporate divestiture of a business unit or need to restructure VUs along organizational lines, resulting in IT system division; or a desire to split to decrease the total population of the VU (such as if degrading performance or experiential clutter had been reported), may drive a need for a VU split.

In the near future, as companies that oversee virtual universes split and merge (e.g. consolidate and undergo financial buy-outs), a need for accomplishing such splitting and merging becomes apparent.

Overview of the Solution and Approach

Generally speaking, the methodology devised by the inventors to divide Virtual Universes by regions has two major phases, as shown in FIG. 1 a:

-   -   (a) split selected regions by “cutting” areas out at selected         destination region edges (10); and     -   (b) redistribute selected accounts, avatars, and their inventory         (11).

The term “cutting” refers to a three-dimensional geometrical division of VU regions, as would be accomplished by identifying borders of land for removal, and its process and is described in further detail in the following paragraphs.

Alternatively, avatars can be selected (12), and their related histories, scripts, and inventories inserted into a new Virtual Universe, deleting their related data from the source universe (13).

As such, the invention allows selected regions, or even just a sub-set of the users in a parent VU, to be split off of the parent VU grid and placed into one or more new VUs.

Implementation and Logical Processes

The following paragraphs are suitable for implementation as software executed by computers (e.g. servers, clients, or both), circuitry coupled with electronic devices, or a combination of software and circuitry.

While the examples provided herein will refer to Linden Labs' SecondLife™, it is within the skill in the art to adapt the invention to realize it in conjunction with a wide variety of virtual world systems, including but not limited to Sony's Everquest, Terra ICT's Dreamville, Dubit Limited's Dubit, Voltweb Limited's TowerChat, Lightmaker's Virtual Ibiza, Bongartz Dr Kozan GbR's Moove, Sulake Corporation Oy's Habbo Hotel, Playdo's Playdo, Siliconmania's “whyrobbierocks<dot>com”, Voodoo Chat, Adobe's Atmosphere, Daimler Chrysler's MobileKids, Blizzard's World of Warcraft, America's Army, Forterra Systems' products, Tate's agoraXchange, Activeworlds, Coca Cola's Coke Studios, Integrated Virtual Networks' Cybertown, Walt Disney Internet Group's Toontown, Disney Online's Virtual Magic Kingdom, MadWolf Software's “The Manor”, Muse Communications' “Muse”, Electronic Arts' Sims Online, Tomo Software's Sora City, There Incorporated's “There”, The Digital Space Commons' Traveler, Halsoft's VPchat, Stratagem Corporation's VZones, Numedeon's Whyville, Worlds<dot>com, and Three Rings' “Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates”.

These methods require a modification to VU grid software where a new-migration tool will be created and operate according to the steps below. This migration tool may need to have connectivity and administrator access to the VU grid to be split, and in particular have read-write access to the VU's databases, depending on details of the design of the VU to which the invention is being coupled. This tool will act as a bridge where migration transactions can be initiated and confirmed.

For reference, in the following details, the inventors talk about splitting VU grid 2 out of VU grid 1. These methods may be performed when VU grid 1 is functioning or when it is offline. If the grid migration is performed while a region is on-line, there may be some period of time when an avatar from VU grid 1 will have its region and land unavailable (or partially available) while it is placed into VU grid 2. The inventors also describe the method in a preferred embodiment, which would be able to split VUs without suspending service.

For greater understanding of the invention, two methods or approaches are now described.

Method 1: “Split regions by cutting areas out at selected destination region edges”. This method describes how to technically split regions (land, buildings, and environment objects). This method is preferably implemented from the migration tool. Referring to FIG. 9 a, a first method according to the present invention includes steps as follows:

-   A. Using a user interface (90), such as a remote interface via a web     browser, an administrator selects (91) region edges from VU grid 1     (92) that will be cut. That is, the coordinate lines at which an     avatar traveling from, for example, VU grid 1 region 1 into VU grid     region 2, will no longer be able to do the removal of the region at     those coordinate lines. This will preferably be done via a “cut and     paste” graphical representation of the regions, as downloaded and     rendered in map form by the migration tool, although other     implementations are likewise possible. -   B. The invention sends instructions to VU grid 1 to lock (92) the     region(s) to be split so that no new avatars may enter and no     modification may be made. The locking will preferably teleport     rather than disconnect any avatars who are in the region at the time     of the lock. -   C. The invention sends a select query to VU grid 1 to retrieve (93)     all of the regions' data (96). -   D. The invention then stores (94) the data retrieved in the previous     step into a temporary table (95). -   E. Next, the invention sends a delete query to VU grid 1 (92) to     delete (97) the data for the new region (Region 2) selected in the     previous step. -   F. The invention also invokes process to create (98) a new, blank VU     grid 2 (99). -   G. The invention then sends an insert query (98) to new VU grid 2     (99) using the VU grid 1 data (96) from the temporary table (95) to     place the avatars, resources, and context states into the new grid     for the second region, thereby leaving the first region (and its     resources, avatars, etc.) in VU grid 1 (92), and moving the second     region's resources into VU grid 2 (99).

If the administrator has cut 3 or more regions, this process (91-900) is repeated (900) for each region, wherein the resources for each region are selected (93), stored in a table (95), deleted from the first VU grid (92), and inserted (900) into a new VU grid for each region.

Method 2: Split accounts, avatars, and their inventories. An alternative method according to the invention splits user accounts, their associated avatars, and their inventories items into a separate VU grid. Referring to FIG. 9 b, a first method according to the present invention includes steps as follows:

-   A. An administrator or automated program (90) selects (910) avatars     from VU grid 1 (92) that will be split from VU grid 1 into VU grid     2. An automated program may identify users to split based on the     following steps:     -   1) If in an embodiment that is in combination with Method 1,         users who own land or buildings within regions that were         selected to be split in Method 1 step 1.     -   2) If in an embodiment that is in combination with Method 1,         users whose time within regions that were selected to be split         is greater than their time within regions that will remain.     -   3) Users who meet criteria of the VU grid owners, such as:         -   i) Users who have been relatively active or inactive in             relation to other users, such as measured by login time or             transactions within a specified date range;         -   ii) Users who have been relatively reputable or disreputable             in relation to other users, such as measured by any             reputation flags, reports, disciplinary actions logged in             the database, etc.;         -   iii) Users who have spent a lot or a little real world money             within the VU relative to other users;         -   iv) Users associated or not associated with a particular             group, such as all;         -   v) Users that meet any other measurable criteria.     -   4) If a specified number or percentage of users needed to be         split has been exceeded, remove from selection according to         administrator-specified exception rules, such as to back out         users that were selected in step A.3.iv, then A.3.iii, etc., and         then repeat this step.     -   5) If a specified number or percentage of users needed to be         split has been selected, continue, otherwise, modify criteria in         step 1.c according to administrator-specified exception rules,         such as to add additional criteria, or to relax thresholds of         1.c.i, etcetera, and then repeat this step. Note that it is         possible in step A for there to be no criteria and no specified         number or percentage of users needed to be split. -   B. The invention sends instructions to VU grid 1 (92) to lock (911)     the user account(s) so that no avatar or inventory modification may     be made. The locking will preferably include or be preceded by     notification to the users. -   C. The invention then sends (912) a select query to VU grid 1 (92)     to retrieve all of the account, avatar, and inventory data, for the     locked avatars. This includes any related data such as history and     scripts. -   D. The invention then stores (914) the data (913) retrieved in the     previous step into a temporary table (915). -   E. The invention generates (917) new UUIDs of all extracted VU grid     1 objects (avatars and all inventory items) using VU grid 2's UUID     generation routine. -   F. An insert query is sent (918) to VU grid 2 (99) using the VU grid     1 data from the temporary table. Instructions are also sent to VU     grid 2 to invoke any generation routines normally invoked upon user     or inventory creation, such as updating notice boards, web site     statistics, etc.

If more avatars are to be moved to separate VU grids, steps 910-918 are repeated (919) for each avatars to be moved into each additional VU grid.

Optionally, commands can be sent to VU grid 1 to delete the moved avatars (916) (delete the user data and all descendent objects such as avatars, inventory, history, scripts, etc.), as well as to log-off the user account(s) to be moved who are currently logged in to VU grid 1. Also, instructions may be sent to VU grid 1 to invoke any routines normally invoked upon account deletion.

Preferably, a temporary table is inserted on VU grid 1 with the deleted or moved account IDs with their passwords, so that any user attempting to re-login to VU grid 1 using one of these IDs and password combinations can be notified of the relocation of the account(s). This temporary table may be purged at a desired time, such as after a single login of each stored ID, or after a certain period of time.

Other Methods and Variations. The methods described above may be ordered differently, and steps may not be committed in the databases until other or all steps have been completed. Such variations will be recognized by those skilled in the art as failing within the scope and framework of the present invention.

Usage Example Scenarios

In the following scenarios, the first method would be useful:

-   (1) VU grid 1 owner realizes there is too much space relative to the     population, resulting in wasted server resources and reduced user     interaction. Fewer regions would condense the population and reduce     the number of servers required. Note that in this case, the split     regions might be purged rather than used to create VU grid 2. -   (2) VU grid 2 owner would like to pay for exclusive rights to select     regions of VU grid 1. Therefore, the regions must first be split.

In the following scenarios, the second method would be useful:

-   (1) The reason for a split is purely to decrease population density,     and so splitting regions would not be desired. The users split from     VU grid 1 are to be abandoned or later merged into another VU grid. -   (2) Another VU grid provider has purchased a subset of VU grid 1's     users, and so they must first be split out of VU grid 1.

CONCLUSION

While certain examples and details of a preferred embodiment have been disclosed, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that variations in implementation such as use of different programming methodologies, computing platforms, and processing technologies, may be adopted without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for splitting a first virtual universe context by designating one or more avatars to be separated from the first virtual universe, said method comprising the steps of: selecting one or more avatars from a first virtual universe grid to form one or more selected avatars, said step of selecting comprising automatically selecting said one or more avatars on the basis that said one or more avatars have exceeded an activity threshold; instructing said first virtual universe grid to lock user accounts associated with said one or more selected avatars in order to prevent avatar or inventory modification to said selected one or more avatars, thereby forming locked avatars; retrieving and storing account, avatar, and inventory data for said locked avatars from said first virtual universe grid, said step of retrieving account, avatar, and inventory data comprising retrieving scripts associated with said locked avatars; commanding a second virtual universe grid, distinct from said first virtual universe grid, to generate one or more new universe user identifiers corresponding to said stored data; and commanding said second virtual universe grid to insert said one or more selected avatars into said second virtual universe grid.
 2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of commanding said second virtual universe grid to insert said one or more selected avatars into said second virtual universe grid comprises commanding said second virtual universe grid to perform an operation selected from the group of updating a notice board and updating a web site statistic.
 3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of retrieving account, avatar, and inventory data for said locked avatars from said first virtual universe grid comprises retrieving history associated with said locked avatars.
 4. A data processing system for splitting a first virtual universe context by designating one or more avatars to be separated from the first virtual universe, said data processing system comprising: one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories and one or more computer-readable storage devices; program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to select one or more avatars from a first virtual universe grid to form one or more selected avatars, wherein said program instructions to select said one or more avatars select said one or more avatars on the basis that said one or more avatars are designated as disreputable; program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to instruct said first virtual universe grid to lock user accounts associated with said one or more selected avatars in order to prevent avatar or inventory modification to said selected one or more avatars, thereby forming locked avatars; program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to retrieve and store account, avatar, and inventory data for said locked avatars from said first virtual universe grid, wherein said program instructions, to retrieve account, avatar, and inventory data for said locked avatars from said first virtual universe grid retrieve scripts associated with said locked avatars; program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to command a second virtual universe grid, distinct from said first virtual universe grid, to generate one or more new universe user identifiers corresponding to said stored data after storing said data; and program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to command said second virtual universe grid to insert said one or more selected avatars into said second virtual universe grid.
 5. The data processing system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said program instructions to command said second virtual universe grid to insert said one or more selected avatars into said second virtual universe grid command said second virtual universe grid to perform an operation selected from the group of updating a notice board and updating a web site statistic.
 6. The data processing system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said program instructions to retrieve account, avatar, and inventory data for said locked avatars from said first virtual universe grid retrieve history associated with said locked avatars. 